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Suspected drunk driver charged in three deaths in Irvine

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A Rialto man is facing murder charges in a July crash that killed three people in Irvine and left a fourth person with traumatic brain injuries.

Prosecutors on Wednesday charged Jeremy Greenwood, 30, with three murder counts as well as other charges related to driving under the influence, with a high level of alcohol measured in his system through a blood test.

At 3 a.m. July 1, prosecutors say, Greenwood ran a red light at the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Michelson Drive, traveling at 86 mph. His vehicle struck the victims’ car, which was passing through the intersection on a green light. That car spun across the sidewalk and came to rest next to a hedge.

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Witnesses called 911 and removed Greenwood from his own damaged vehicle, which caught fire.

Dead at the scene were Kasean Herrera, 23, and Jeremy Shankling, 24. The two were best friends and UCI graduates who worked as software engineers. Shankling was employed with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

London Thibodeaux, 19, a UCI student, was pronounced dead as a result of her injuries four days later.

Another UCI student, 20, whose name has not been released, suffered a serious brain injury.

If convicted, Greenwood faces 51 years to life in prison.

Greenwood had a 2012 DUI conviction in Los Angeles, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

howard.blume@latimes.com

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@howardblume


UPDATES:

3:30 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that the Orange County District Attorney sent out a second release to correct the age of victim London Thibodeaux. The first release said she was 20. The second listed her age as 19.

This article was originally published at 12:10 p.m.

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